[EL] Interesting 82% super-majority rule in Chicago redistricting

[Thomas J. Cares]

Yes, I would say California exceeds that somewhat, because 2 of the 14 (14.3%), if they come from the group of DTS and minor party commissioners, could stop a plan.

If you want to talk about real uniqueness though, the commissioners who don't belong to either of the two major parties were constitutionally assured more power than their counterparts who do (even combined). Can anyone spot any other occurrence like that, anywhere in the US (even just by happenstance, and not statutory or constitutional directive)?


(I meant that rhetorically, though now that I think about it, I suppose it wouldn't be shocking if there were some odd city councils or boards where a bloc of non-partisans combined with minor party members had the most voting power).


Thomas J. Cares

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 18, 2012, at 8:20 PM, Douglas Johnson <djohnson at ndcresearch.com> wrote:

> California's state redistricting commission is comprised of 14 members: 5 Dem, 5 Rep, and 4 independents. Adopting a plan requires at least 9 votes, and those votes must include at least 3 Dem, 3 Rep, and 3 independent votes.
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> - Doug
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> Douglas Johnson
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> From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Dan Johnson
> Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 12:12 PM
> To: Election Law
> Subject: [EL] Interesting 82% super-majority rule in Chicago redistricting
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> The City of Chicago has an interesting procedural rule for redistricting, designed to forge consensus: 82% of all aldermen must vote for a new map as any 20% of the body (10 of 50 aldermen) may put a competing map on the ballot. 
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> http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120118/BLOGS02/120119782/new-ward-map-backed-by-emanuel-looks-likely-to-pass-thursday
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>  is a news quip about the latest developments.
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> Anyone else aware of a similar procedural rule that empowers a minority and thus creates a super-majority threshold in the redistricting context? 
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> Dan
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> -- 
> Dan Johnson
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